WOMEN'S FORUM

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1932, Page 10

WOMEN'S FORUM

MECHANICAL AID. The robot policemen have been such a success at Prague that it has been decided to "teach" them English, French and German as well as Czech. These fellows do a great deal more than directing traffic at cross-roads. If you want the address of the nearest dentist, doctor —or wineshop —you press a button and receive a slip of paper giving the necessary information. Hitherto this information has emerged only in Czech, but now it will come forth in a form that will make most foreign visitors happy, too. HINTS THAT HELP.

Silk materials may no longer be brilliant in surface, but dull. Woollens, on the other hand, must be gay and weavers have been bringing off the two paradoxes with prodigies of ingenuity. They have succeeded in producing heavy and solid silks with no glint of sheen and the daintiest things in wool for wear with tailor-mades. Jewelled pins and brooches aro no longer used for fastening the scarf, which must now be held in place by an enormous silver safety-pin. A circular knot in the centre of the pin is the only ornament allowed. Banana yellow and orange red are respectively the colours chosen for Parisian powder and lipstick this season abroad. Flaming lips are to be "worn" generally.

FOR TIRED LEGS. Even the most healthy of us get tired and swollen legs. At some time or other we have had that "Oh my legs!" expression on our faces. The secret of preventing aching legs is simple enough; it is merely to stand "at attention" instead of "at ease," When you stand at ease, all the muscles of the legs and body are more or less limp and give no assistance to the circulation in promoting the return of the blood from the legs to the heart. But when you are at attention your muscles are all toned up and the circulation is improved. It is, therefore, a rule well worth remembering that the more yon allow yourself to droop physically, the more tired and good-for-nothing you will feel; while, if you hold yourself up, above all, bracing up your legs and holding your body in, you will feel ever so much better. Those who have to stand about a great deal should take additional precautions. First of all they should avoid wearing tight gartens, they should, two or three times each day, do a few brisk leg exercises, such as "double knee-bends," and also, if their legs still tend to swell at the ankles they may try taking a mild alkaline mixture from their doctor or chemist.

LONDON WOMEN'S CLUBS. Women's clubland, always a barometer of the social season, promises to be busier than ever this season in London. The tendency for community entertaining is causing private hostesses to make use of a club instead of their own homes, and many club reception rooms are being booked for private parties, and even wedding receptions. Another new feature of club life is that it now appeals to the younger generation. A member of the Lyceum says that whereas. once women used to join a club between the aires of 40 and 50, when they were well established and had done things, nowadays girls of debutante age were becoming keen junior members. Girls, although still somewhat diffident about making use of the extensive club services, have discovered the convenience of giving their own tea parties there. This year many men's clubs are permitting members to entertain women jruests at luncheon, tea and dinner during week-ends, and the United University Club and Junior United Service Club have devised rooms reserved for women guests. Club balls will add to the gaiety of the season, chief among them beincr the Ladies' Carlton Club ball at the end of next month and the midsummer ball of the American's Women's Club. The latter club is preparing for a record invasion of American hostesses who, it is thought, will take advantage of the fact that the exchange is in their favour to satisfy their desire to take part in the amusements of a London season.